Fluffy Gluten Free Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

These homemade Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Rolls are full of juicy apples and a sweet brown sugar cinnamon swirl. They are the perfect version of cinnamon rolls for fall! Get ready to elevate your baking skills and savor a symphony of flavors that perfectly captures the essence of cozy comfort.

I have been on a roll (no pun intended), creating some fun flavors of cinnamon rolls lately. I love how flavor bakes into every bite.

In this mouthwatering post, I will guide you step by step through the process of creating these incredible gluten-free apple cinnamon rolls, from the soft and buttery dough swirled with cinnamon-apple filling to the luscious vanilla frosting tops these heavenly rolls.

If you want to try other flavors, check out all of my gluten free cinnamon roll flavors.

Why This Recipe Is Great:

1. You can use any flavor of apples. I love using more tart apples because they stand out with the brown sugar and cinnamon flavors.
2. These rolls turn out so light and fluffy. You won't believe they are gluten free.
3. My gluten free apple cider cinnamon rolls are a fusion of flavors that effortlessly combine the sweet essence of ripe apples with the comforting warmth of cinnamon.
4. These rolls are baked with lots of apple cider, giving you apple flavor in every bite.

If you love apples as much as we do, I have a ton of incredible gluten free apple recipes to try!

Allergen Information:

These rolls are gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. See the Substitutions section for a dairy-free alternative.

Top Pick

Steve's Gluten Free Bread Flour Blend, 3 lbs

This Authentic Foods Steve's Gluten Free Bread Blend is hands down the best gluten-free flour for yeasted bread recipes. With this flour, you can braid, shape, and roll incredible bread, cinnamon rolls, and pizza crust. (Note, it doesn't work in a bread machine.)

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Ingredient Notes:

• Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe with Authentic Foods Steve's GF Bread Blend. It is the best blend I have found for cinnamon rolls because they turn out incredibly fluffy, like the real deal. I have used Cup4Cup in other cinnamon roll recipes, which also works. Note you will need to add a lot more Cup4Cup flour than listed in this recipe.
• Xanthan Gum - If you use a flour blend that doesn't have a binder, add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.
• Active Dry Yeast - I haven't tested this recipe using rapid yeast. Note you should double-check that the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star "Platinum" is NOT gluten free!
• Brown Sugar and Ground Cinnamon
• Salt
• Butter - Use unsalted butter.
• Eggs - Size large.
• Apple Cider - This helps give these rolls awesome apple flavor.
• Vanilla Extract - Use pure vanilla extract.

Substitutions:

• Make this recipe dairy-free by using a plant-based butter.
• Make this recipe gum-free by using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It contains no xanthan gum. It uses psyllium husk for the binder. I haven't tested it in this specific recipe, but it works in my regular cinnamon roll recipe, which uses the same gluten free cinnamon roll base dough.

Tips For Sucess:

• Always check the gluten free flour blend you use to ensure it works in yeast recipes! I can't say this enough. Bob's 1:1 and King Arthur 1:1 state they do not work in yeast recipes, amongst others.
• Be sure your apple cider isn't too hot before adding the yeast. The temperature should be no hotter than 110º F.
• Rise the dough in a warm spot. I preheat my oven to 200º F, then turn it off. I then cover the pan with plastic wrap and put it in the warm oven. This is the perfect temperature to rise the dough, especially in colder weather.

Check out my Gluten Free Bread Troubleshooting Guide for more tips and tricks for rising the dough.

Tools For Cinnamon Rolls

• Stand Mixer
• Silicone Mat
• String

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Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Step 1: Heat the cider for 20 seconds in the microwave; be sure it is no hotter than 110º F. Stir and add the yeast and one teaspoon of sugar to the dish. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is frothy.

Step 2: Add the bubbly yeast mixture, melted butter, and eggs to a stand mixer bowl. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.

Step 3: Add the flour and salt to the stand mixer. Turn on low speed and gradually increase the speed to medium until the dough is formed.

🔑 Sandi says: You can also mix this by hand in a large mixing bowl.

Step 4: Your dough should be workable. If you use a gluten free flour blend that wasn't Authentic Foods, note you "may" need to add a lot more flour to get the dough to be workable. This is normal. The Authentic Foods Steve's Bread Blend is crafted, so you don't need as much flour to hold it together.

Step 5: In a mixing bowl, add diced apples, melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix well. I peeled my apples. It is optional to peel the apples, but the texture will be better peeled.

Step 5 continued: Place the dough onto a silicone mat and roll the dough to ¼ to ½ inch thickness. You want the dough to be shaped like a rectangle.

Some gluten free flour blends are stickier than others, so be sure to dust the mat and dough with flour if you think it needs it.

Step 6: Spread the apple sugar mixture over the dough.

Step 7: Carefully roll the dough over the apple mixture. Try to roll them tightly. Pressing the ends slightly as you roll it.

Take a piece of thread or unflavored dental floss. Place it under the rolls near the end. Pull the pieces of thread up, crossing the ends of the string over, and pull. As the thread circle narrows, this will cut a roll. Continue until you have cut the whole log into rolls.

Step 8: Place the rolls into a greased 9x13 pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer.

Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Place the rolls into an oven preheated to 200º F. Be sure once the oven is heated to 200º F to turn it off. This gives the rolls a nice warm environment to rise.

Step 9: The rolls will rise over the next 45-60 minutes to double in size. Remove them from the oven and throw away the piece of plastic wrap.

Step 10: Bake the gluten free apple cinnamon rolls for 30 minutes until slightly golden. Move the pan to a cooling rack. Cool the rolls before eating them. (Be careful because the apple sugar gets very hot after baking.)

Drizzle icing or spread vanilla frosting over the rolls.

To make the icing, combine the room-temperature cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl or stand mixer. Whip until creamy. This homemade cream cheese icing has the creamiest texture and is absolutely delicious with these cinnamon buns.

Recipe FAQ:

More Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll Recipes

• Gluten Free Lemon Rolls with yummy lemon custard swirled in the rolls.
• Easy Gluten Free Orange Rolls with an orange zest and sugar swirl.
• Gluten Free Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for Christmas.
• Fluffy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are a great fall breakfast treat.

📖 Recipe

Fluffy Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Sandi Gaertner

Delicious gluten free apple cinnamon rolls with lots of apples and brown sugar swirled throughout.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Rise Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 12 rolls

Calories 236 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Yeast Mixture

• ▢ 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast * see note
• ▢ 1 cup apple cider
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sugar

Rolls

• ▢ 2 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
• ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Apple Swirl

• ▢ 1 ½ cup apples peeled and diced
• ▢ ¾ cup brown sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

 

Yeast Prep:

• Heat the apple cider in a microwave for 20 seconds. Be sure it is no hotter than 110º F. Add the yeast and one teaspoon of sugar to the dish. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is frothy.

Make the Rolls:

• Add the bubbly yeast mixture, melted butter, and eggs to a stand mixer bowl. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
• Add the flour and salt to the stand mixer. Turn on low speed and gradually increase the speed to medium until the dough is formed.
• Your dough should be workable. If you use a gluten free flour blend that wasn't Authentic Foods, note you "may" need to add a lot more flour to get the dough to be workable. This is normal. The Authentic Foods Steve's Bread Blend is crafted, so you don't need as much flour to hold it together.
• In a mixing bowl, add diced apples, melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix well. I peeled my apples. It is optional to peel the apples, but the texture will be better peeled.
• Place the dough onto a silicone mat and roll the dough to ¼ to ½ inch thickness. You want the dough to be shaped like a rectangle.
• Some gluten free flour blends are stickier than others, so be sure to dust the mat and dough with flour if you think it needs it.
• Spread the apple sugar mixture over the dough. Carefully roll the dough over the apple mixture. Try to roll them tightly. Pressing the ends slightly as you roll it.
• Take a piece of thread or unflavored dental floss. Place it under the rolls near the end. Pull the pieces of thread up, crossing the ends of the string over, and pull. As the thread circle narrows, this will cut a roll. Continue until you have cut the whole log into rolls.
• Place the rolls into a greased 9x13 pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer.
• Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Place the rolls into an oven preheated to 200º F. Be sure once the oven is heated to 200º F to turn it off. This gives the rolls a nice warm environment to rise.
• The rolls will rise over the next 45-60 minutes to double in size. Remove them from the oven and throw away the piece of plastic wrap.
• Bake the gluten free apple cinnamon rolls for 30 minutes until slightly golden. Move the pan to a cooling rack. Cool the rolls before eating them. (Be careful because the apple sugar gets very hot after baking.)

Icing:

• To make the icing, combine the room-temperature cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl or stand mixer. Whip until creamy. This homemade cream cheese icing has the creamiest texture and is absolutely delicious with these cinnamon buns. 

Notes

1. Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe with Authentic Foods Steve's GF Bread Blend. It is the best blend I have found for cinnamon rolls because they turn out incredibly fluffy, like the real deal. I have used Cup4Cup in other cinnamon roll recipes, which also works. Note you will need to add a lot more Cup4Cup flour than listed in this recipe.
2. Always check the gluten free flour blend you use to ensure it works in yeast recipes! I can't say this enough. Bob's 1:1 and King Arthur 1:1 state they do not work in yeast recipes.
3. Make this recipe gum-free by using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It contains no xanthan gum. It uses psyllium husk for the binder. I haven't tested it in this specific recipe, but it works in my regular cinnamon roll recipe, which uses the same gluten free cinnamon roll base dough. 
4. Yeast - double check the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
5. Store the rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the rolls in a freezer safe zip bag.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1rollCalories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 3gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 285IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.